Anachronox (pronounced /əˈnækrənɒks/) is a 3-D, third person computer role-playing game produced by Tom Hall and the Ion Storm games studio and released in 2001. A video game developer is a software developer (a business or an individual that creates Video games A developer may specialize in a certain video Ion Storm Inc (sometimes spelled ION Storm) was a Texas based developer of computer games founded by John Romero, a co-creator of the wildly Eidos Interactive is a publisher of video and Computer games with its parent company based in England. Eidos Interactive is a publisher of video and Computer games with its parent company based in England. Infogrames Entertainment SA ( IESA) ( is an international Holding company headquartered in Villeurbanne, Lyon, France. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. A "game designer" is a person who designs Video games or one who designs traditional games such as Board games Video Games Designer A video game designer Tom A Hall (born September 2, 1964) is a Game designer born in Wisconsin. A game engine is a software system designed for the creation and development of computer and video games id Tech 2, formerly known as the Quake II engine, is a Game engine developed by Id Software for use in their games most notably Quake II In Computing, a platform describes some sort of Hardware architecture or Software framework (including Application frameworks, that allows Microsoft Windows is a series of Software Operating systems and Graphical user interfaces produced by Microsoft. Events 1358 - Republic of Dubrovnik is founded 1709 - Peter the Great defeats Charles XII of Sweden Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. Events 512 - A Solar eclipse is recorded by a monastic chronicler in Ireland. Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. Events 350 - Roman usurper Nepotianus, of the Constantinian dynasty, is defeated and killed by troops of the Usurper Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. See also [[Game classification]] Video games are categorized into Genres based on their Gameplay interaction A computer role-playing game ( CRPG) is a broad Video game genre originally developed for personal computers and other home computers In video gaming, single-player refers to the variant of a particular game where input from only one player is expected throughout the course of the gaming session A video game content rating system is a system used for the classification of Video games into suitability-related groups The Entertainment Software Rating Board ( ESRB) is a self-regulatory organization that applies and enforces ratings, Advertising guidelines and USK redirects here For the Usinsk airport see Usinsk Airport. The Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association ( ELSPA) is an Organisation set up in 1989 by British Software publishers It The Office of Film and Literature Classification is a Statutory Censorship and classification body which provides day to day administrative support for the Classification Digital media (as opposed to analog media) usually refers to Electronic media that work on digital Codes. CD-ROM (an initialism of "Compact Disc Read-Only Memory " is a pre-pressed Compact Disc that contains data accessible to but not writable The hertz (symbol Hz) is a measure of Frequency, informally defined as the number of events occurring per Second. A megabyte is a unit of Information or Computer storage equal to either 106 (1000000 Bytes or 220 (1048576 bytes depending on A video card, also known as a graphics accelerator card, display adapter, or graphics card, is a hardware component whose function is to Windows 95 is a consumer-oriented Graphical user interface -based Operating system. In Computing, a keyboard is an Input device partially modelled after the typewriter keyboard which uses an arrangement of buttons or keys In Computing, a mouse (plural mice, mouse devices, or mouses) 3D computer graphics (in contrast to 2D computer graphics) are graphics that use a three-dimensional representation of geometric data that is stored in the computer A computer role-playing game ( CRPG) is a broad Video game genre originally developed for personal computers and other home computers Tom A Hall (born September 2, 1964) is a Game designer born in Wisconsin. Ion Storm Inc (sometimes spelled ION Storm) was a Texas based developer of computer games founded by John Romero, a co-creator of the wildly Events Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences hosts the 4th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards; inducts John Carmack of Id Software The game is built on a heavily modified version of the Quake II engine, considerably rewritten to add improvements such as a wider color palette and more complex character animations (including facial expressions). id Tech 2, formerly known as the Quake II engine, is a Game engine developed by Id Software for use in their games most notably Quake II

Gameplay was notably influenced by console RPGs such as Chrono Trigger, one of Tom Hall's favorite video games[1], although character statistics and item collection have been simplified and the emphasis is on exploration and story-telling rather than RPG-style character building. is a Console role-playing game developed and published by Square (now Square Enix) for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in The player plays the part of Sylvester "Sly Boots" Bucelli, a down-and-out detective in the slums of an alien world called Anachronox. This world sits inside a giant, hollow sphere called Sender One, which is the center of the galaxy's network of space-lanes. Recruited against his will to investigate a mystery concerning the very nature of the universe, Sly travels throughout the galaxy, meeting many characters along the way, some of whom can join the player's party.

Development took roughly three and a half years, and the development team was able to finish only about half of the game, which ends on a major cliffhanger. A cliffhanger or cliffhanger ending is a Plot device in which a movie, Novel, or other work of fiction contains an abrupt ending often leaving The story was to be completed in the sequel, but the game was a commercial failure, which contributed to the dissolution of Ion Storm. However, the game nonetheless developed a cult following, largely due to its off-beat, humorous storyline, and was notable for the quality of its music and is considered by fans to have one of the best game soundtracks. In response to favorable input about the game's story, Jake Strider Hughes (the game's cinematic director and producer) independently spliced together the game's cutscenes into an award-winning machinima movie. Machinima (məˈʃiːnəmə or /məˈʃɪnəmə/

Background

Approximately three hundred years before the game takes place a number of strange artifacts had been found. Named Mysterium Technology, or MysTech, they were believed by some to have been weapons left by a long dead alien race and believed by others to be an alien artform.

A small planetoid-sized reflective sphere, called a Sender, was discovered in space. Long spikes could be seen protruding from its outer shell at regular intervals. A star pilot approaching the Sender noticed a signal being transmitted by one of the spikes. He found himself accelerating toward the Sender and was then transported to another part of space via a hyperspace tunnel. Once ships had been equipped with inertial dampeners, these Senders were regularly used to travel instantaneously from one place to another. Senders became the hubs of lucrative trade and galactic civilization. In the centre of the universe lay the largest Sender, Sender One, which contained Anachronox.

It is believed that Anachronox was home to millions of quarantined aliens many years ago. These aliens are thought to have died from a horrible plague. Anachronox is now largely in ruins and has become the centre of nefarious dealings in the galaxy.

Sly Boots lives in a cheap apartment above Rowdy's, a seedy bar on the seediest street in a section of South Anachronox, called the Bricks. After surviving attacks from a number of mysterious henchmen, Boots is enlisted by a renegade scientist and begins a perilous journey which pits him against some of the most dangerous beings in the universe.

Planets

Anachronox

Anachronox is a long abandoned alien planet, that floats inside a huge sphere known as Sender One. Its cyberpunk theme is the result of huge buildings, complicated architecture, and futuristic undergrounds. Its many inhabitants are from different worlds, and while Northern Anachronox is considered far cleaner and first-class, Southern Anachronox, where the game takes place, is a more gritty experience. Run down streets, homeless junkies, defective machinery, slums, bars, junkyards and small casinos are rampant in Southern Anachronox.

Sylvester Boots owns a detective agency here in Anachronox, inside a seedy bar with bouncers and thugs. It is from here that Boots must recover whatever respect he still has, and begin his long adventure. Although the player definitely leaves Anachronox eventually, it can later be revisited.

Sender Station

Operating outside Sender One, Sender Station is a gateway to the many different worlds in the universe. A small floating space station, Sender Station is far more clean than Anachronox. Its white floors and large green trees contrast vividly against the stars of space. The station acts as somewhat of a hub for the rest of the inactive party, who reside in the Lounge of Commerce.

The ground level of Sender Station is only a small portion of the whole area. One can travel underground to reach the Red Light District, which is as every bit as seedy as Anachronox. Notable areas in the Red Light District are Slutopia, the Orange Navel, and the Cold Sweat Sex Machine.

Sunder

A bright and glowing planet, where the greatest minds of the universe gather to discuss the future, Sunder is a peaceful world full of intellect and brains. Boots travels here with Grumpos to speak with Rho Bowman, a scientist studying the interests of Mystech. The world stands on huge bright buildings, overlooking a bright sun.

The planet meets its early demise when it suddenly explodes due a strange phenomenon the player must investigate. According to Rho, after the explosion, science is "set back one hundred years. "

Hephaestus

Hephaestus is a volcanic planet where religious beliefs and novelty rides are everyday life for the inhabitants. Where Mystech was first discovered and used, Boots travels here to seek an audience with the Grand Mysterium, which is inside the tower. Within the tower is both the Levant and the Sluice Gates, underground areas which are both dangerous and hot.

The only way to reach the Tower of the Grand Mysterium is to first traverse the Entertainment District, which is home to many children, monks, and clowns. Here, one can play minigames, trade Mystech, order drinks and get rest at hotels.

Democratus

Democratus is an odd world with an incredible array of different environments, inhabitants, an order. The planet has a huge mechanical ring around it which serves as a town, called "Votowne" to the democrats of Democratus. Up here, the inhabitants are in the shape of tall, thin, pale coloured aliens, who run and live their lives in a political case. Votowne, and Democratus itself is governed by the High Council of Democratus, great leaders who decide how the planet shall run, where it will go, and what size the planet should be reduced to.

The surface of Democratus is different all over. One area, is a cold and mountainous region, similar to that of Norway. Another, is a dry and barren wasteland, where soldiers walk and battle. Another is on the highest peak of rocky mountains, overlooking beautiful sunsets, inside an indigenous tribal village, where strange aliens find magic through leaves.

Limbus

A dry and desolate planet, where clever warriors who simply want to live normal lives, are under constant attack from another universe. Limbus is not a bright planet, nor is it dark, but instead a dry and bland wasteland, where little but small monsters walk the dusty plains. The small village the inhabitants live in is inside, and incredibly safe, but all have weaknesses.

Boots and his party travel here out of desperation for answers. Before finding them however, they must fight with the very thing they were looking for.

Characters

Boots (foreground), PAL-18, and Grumpos arrive on the planet Sunder III disguised as scientists.

Sylvester "Sly Boots" Bucelli

Once a hotshot detective living in North Anachronox, Sly has since fallen upon hard times. Having sold his detective agency and fallen into debt to a mobster named Detta, Sly now works out of a bar storage room in the Bricks, the seediest part of Anachronox. Though he thinks everyone likes him, Sly only has three friends: Rowdy, the bartender who rents him the storeroom, PAL-18, a Personal Android Lackey which he has owned since childhood (who he hasn't been able to afford batteries for the past year), and his secretary, Fatima Doohan(who has been dead for even longer, now existing only as a digital simulation on his PDA-analogue lifecursor). In Transhumanism and Science fiction, mind uploading (also occasionally referred to by other terms such as mind transfer, whole brain emulation

Grumpos Matavastros

Former curator of the MysTech museum, Grumpos joins the journey to save the universe quite early on in the game. His knowledge of MysTech and its uses are unsurpassed. He is a worthy addition to the team due to his special ability to break people's wills by yammering at them.

PAL-18

A Personal Android Lackey robot Boots received on his 9th birthday, PAL-18 has recently been collecting dust in the corner of Boots' office. Once new batteries have been found, PAL is brought back to life and adds his wacky personality and potent hacking skill to the team. Though really just a toy, Boots has modified him with armor and weapons systems, making him a potent fighter.

Doctor Rho Bowman

The team meets Rho on Sunder, the science-center of the universe, to ask her to analyse some MysTech they have discovered. Having observed the sheer power that a piece of MysTech contains, Rho joins the team on their quest to discover how and why MysTech exists.

The Planet Democratus

Once the team escape from Sunder, they find themselves at the planet Democratus, a world with incredibly advanced technology, but almost no common sense. Although this world's inhabitants have developed a sufficiently advanced technology, the planet has now fallen under the control of an endlessly arguing committee. Arthur C Clarke formulated the following three " laws " of Prediction: When a distinguished but elderly scientist states that something is So, when team appears and singlehandedly saves this bureaucratic nightmare from an attack by the Verilent Hive, the planet's leaders are sufficiently impressed that they offer to assist the team on their quest(actually, they're trying to hide from the Hive). Thus, the most annoying civilization in the universe shrinks their planet to five feet in diameter and begins following the team around.

Stiletto Anyway

Stiletto, also known as Serenata Iniwa, was once Boots' employee, but is now a freelance assassin. After seeing Boots again at the red light district, they can both see that many things have changed since they last met. Stiletto reluctantly joins Boots in his quest to save the universe.

Paco "El Puño" Estrella

A former super hero from Krapton, the planet of super heroes. Paco lost his job, was captured and imprisoned onboard a supervillain's ship and turned to alcohol. He has lost all confidence in himself and has given up trying to be a hero.

Fatima Doohan

Boots' former secretary. She died when she was thrown from (and then hit by) Boots' skycar when it crashed during a chase. Fatima has since been digitized and helps Boots keep track of the numerous stats in the game. She frequently seems sad but is very loyal to Boots.

Reception

Despite coming from the same Ion Storm as the ill-received Daikatana and suffering delays for longer, Anachronox was well-received by critics, garnering an average review score of 79%, as calculated by Game Rankings. Ion Storm Inc (sometimes spelled ION Storm) was a Texas based developer of computer games founded by John Romero, a co-creator of the wildly Daikatana is a First-person shooter Computer game developed by Ion Storm and published by Eidos Interactive. Game Rankings is a Website which keeps track of Video game reviews from other sites and combines them to present an average rating for each game ^[1] Critics praised its well-written plot and sense of humor, but warned against a slow start to the game. ^[2]

Since its release, three unofficial patches have been released - two by Joey Liaw (one of the game's programmers) which provide such improvements as taxi-cabs between distant points, greater stability and enhanced save game functionality - and one by fans, which fixes most of the remaining bugs.

Machinima film

Jake Hughes independently combined the game's cut-scenes into a feature-length film, which won three awards at the 2002 Machinima Film Festival. Feature length is a film term that refers to the length of a Feature film. The Academy of Machinima Arts & Sciences ( AMAS) is a Non-profit organization dedicated to the development and advocacy of the Machinima industry Machinima.com had to say about the film: "Anachronox: The Movie is a tour-de-force, one of the finest Machinima films produced to date, and probably the most accomplished Machinima feature to date. Machinimacom (məˈʃiːnɨmə or /məˈʃɪnɨmə/ is a Website, operated by Machinima Inc Hell, it managed to hold two over-worked jury members in a room for two and a half hours before the MFF 2002 - what more can we say?". Machinima. com is planning on releasing the film as a high-resolution DVD version, with extra footage and artwork.

References

1. ^ Anachronox at Game Rankings
2. ^ Wolpaw, Erik (2001-06-16). Game Rankings is a Website which keeps track of Video game reviews from other sites and combines them to present an average rating for each game Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. Events 1487 - Battle of Stoke Field, the last dying breath of the Wars of the Roses. Anachronox for PC Review. GameSpot. GameSpot is a video gaming Website that provides News, Reviews Previews Downloads and other information Retrieved on 2007-01-14. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1129 - Formal approval of the Order of the Templar at the Council of Troyes.

External links

• Anachronox website at Eidos
• Anachronox at MobyGames
• Planet Anachronox website
• Anachronox: The Movie article on machinima. MobyGames is a Website devoted to cataloging computer and video games, both past and present com (with 1 GB of mpeg downloads)
• Anachronox editing documentation project